Hospitalists: an efficient, new breed of inpatient caregivers.

Hospitalists are a relatively new segment of the physician population (primarily internists and critical care practitioners) specializing in managing the overall care of hospitalized patients, a responsibility traditionally assumed by primary care physicians. Managed care organizations, large medical groups, practice management companies, and hospitals that have adopted inpatient programs incorporating hospitalists report reductions in length of patient stays, decreased costs, and improved efficiency of delivery, with no adverse effect on patient satisfaction. Use of hospitalists is being encouraged by some managed care organizations, but local medical communities remain largely resistant to the introduction of hospitalist programs. Healthcare systems should proactively evaluate the benefits of instituting a hospitalist program.